
There are two labels that need to be affixed to the front windshield of a new car: the motor vehicle inspection compliance label and the compulsory insurance label. Both labels must be placed in the upper right corner of the vehicle's front windshield. If the driver has held a driver's license for less than one year, a probationary driver sign must also be affixed to the rear of the vehicle. Below is relevant information about vehicle labels: 1. Legal requirements: Article 11 of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China stipulates that when driving a motor vehicle on the road, the vehicle must display license plates, display the inspection compliance label and insurance label, and carry the vehicle registration certificate. 2. New 2019 label regulations: Previously, three labels - the motor vehicle inspection compliance label, compulsory insurance label, and environmental inspection compliance label - were all mandatory and had to be displayed on the front windshield. However, under the new regulations, the environmental inspection compliance label has been abolished, and only the motor vehicle inspection compliance label and compulsory insurance label are now required.

The first thing after getting a new car is dealing with those labels. Actually, it's much simpler now. A few years ago, you had to display the annual inspection label and compulsory traffic insurance label, but now they're all digitized. The key thing to display is the temporary license plate, which must be affixed to both the front and rear windshields, positioned in the lower left or right corner, making sure not to obstruct the view. When I bought my car, the 4S shop helped with the temporary plates, and the two paper slips they provided needed to be carefully affixed. Remember, temporary plates are valid for 15 to 30 days, during which you should hurry to get the official plates. Once the metal plates are installed, the temporary ones become invalid. I've also seen people pile too many decorations on their windshields, covering the temporary plates and getting fined, so this is something to be particularly careful about. Additionally, new energy vehicles don’t need to display any special labels; just getting the green license plates is enough. Now, basically, only the temporary plates must be displayed, making things much easier.

I just researched this when I picked up my new car last week. Currently, for new vehicles, you mainly need to attach temporary license plates - one on the lower right corner of the front windshield and another on the lower left corner of the rear windshield, secured firmly with transparent tape. The compulsory traffic insurance label can be checked electronically via a mobile app, so there's no need to display a paper version anymore. However, temporary plates have very short validity periods - mine was only valid for 15 days, so you need to schedule the formal registration procedures accordingly. When attaching them, make sure to avoid the tinted areas of the window film, keeping the numbers completely visible. A useful tip: clean the glass thoroughly before application, as dust can cause the edges to lift after a few days of driving. If you run out of the static cling films provided by the dealership, regular transparent tape can work as a substitute, but avoid using any adhesive that might obstruct your view.

As a veteran driver who has purchased three cars, the changes in vehicle decals are quite significant. In the early days, you had to stick three or four decals: the annual inspection decal, the environmental protection decal, and the compulsory traffic insurance decal, making the windshield look cluttered. Now, with policy optimizations, it's much simpler, with only the temporary license plate needing to be properly displayed. The safest spots are the lower left corners of the front and rear windshields, and using static cling stickers makes it easier. Be especially aware that different cities may have varying requirements for the validity period of temporary plates—last time in Shenzhen, I only got a 15-day validity. Once you receive the official license plates, you should replace them on the same day; metal plates are the real deal. The environmental protection decal has also been abolished, so no need to worry about finding a spot for it. Overall, things are much more hassle-free now compared to before.


